Chapter 30

Chapter 30

“You killed his wife, and then years later you came back to take his daughter hostage.” I glared at SK, my voice laced with venom.

He smirked, eyes glinting with amusement. “But you saved her,” he said in a soft voice, almost mocking. “You saved his daughter.”

“How about his wife?” I shot back, pain lancing through me, forcing me to relax against Nat for support.

For a moment, SK was silent. Then he turned to me, his tone dark. “She deserved it. I watched her scream at her husband, tearing him apart. He was suffering. I had to relieve him of his pain.”

“You’re a fool. A psycho who will never understand what true love actually means.” My breaths were shallow, but my anger gave me strength. “When you love someone, you fight. You distance yourselves. You hurt each other. But you always come back—because deep down, you know you can’t live without them.”

SK’s expression hardened. He groaned, clutching at his wounded shoulder, but his fury pushed through. “Then tell me why my mother never came back!” he shouted. His fist tightened, his voice breaking. “It’s been years, and I’ve still never seen her. She didn’t even show up at my father’s funeral. I searched everywhere… all over the world!” He scoffed bitterly. “I never found her. Not until recently—I heard she’s in London. I was going to go there. Take my sweetheart with me. Prove to her that I can find someone who’ll stay. Someone who won’t leave me.”

I shook my head, forcing the words through my pain. “You don’t force someone to love you, Andrew. I would never stay with you. If you try to hold someone like that, it will only end the same way your mother left.”

The words sent him into a frenzy. SK screamed, clutching his shoulder, staggering to his feet.

Nat raised his gun, jaw tight. I blinked hard, my eyelids threatening to close, but I forced myself to stay conscious.

“You can’t fight him, Nat,” I whispered. “You don’t have the skill. Let’s just find a way out. We already know where he’s headed, we can come back later for him.”

Nat swallowed hard, pain flickering in his eyes. He leaned close to me. “There’s no way out of this, Ariel. Not unless we jump into the water.”

“I can swim,” I said faintly, trying to smile.

Nat’s lips curved into the faintest grin. “Then pray the sharks don’t eat us before we make it.”

“What are you smiling at?!” SK bellowed.

Nat helped me into his arms, keeping his gun trained on SK.

“Give her back, rookie, and I promise I’ll let you live,” SK sneered.

“She’s not, and she’ll never be—your sweetheart, you psycho,” Nat snapped.

Before SK could respond, a shot rang out. Nat staggered, blood bursting from his shoulder.

“Nat!” I gasped, my eyes wide in horror.

He groaned, nearly stumbling under my weight, but still held me firmly. Blood dripped freely down his arm, yet his gaze only hardened further.

“Nat…” I whispered weakly as he carried me to a safer corner, shielding me from the line of gunshots. He set me down gently and turned back, determined.

Gunfire erupted. Nat shot rapidly, forcing down the assailant positioned above the containers. The man fell, crashing to the floor below.

Nat tossed aside his emptied gun and snatched another from the fallen man.

But then—my blood turned cold. SK had managed to get hold of a gun behind the containers.

I staggered out from my hiding place, desperation overriding pain.

“Nat!” I gasped loudly.

He turned toward me, eyes flicking over my face in alarm—just as the shot rang out.

The bullet slammed into my chest. My breath caught in my throat. I froze, wide-eyed, before blood poured from the wound. My body crumpled forward, and Nat caught me before I hit the ground.

“Ariel! Wake up—wake up!” His voice cracked. He shook me gently, refusing to let me slip away. “Ariel!” His cry tore through the air.

SK stepped closer. “I told you already. If I can’t have her, no one can.”

Nat’s hands trembled as he laid me down carefully. His eyes darkened. His chest heaved. Slowly, he rose to his feet, his entire being consumed by rage.

He charged at SK with terrifying speed.

SK barely had time to lift his gun before Nat’s fist connected with his face, sending him stumbling back with blood pouring from his nose.

Nat pressed forward, relentless. Blow after blow, kick after kick—each one fueled by fury—drove SK crashing against the containers.

SK collapsed to the ground, coughing blood, his face already swollen and bruised.

Nat yanked him up by the hair, glaring into his battered face. From his pocket, he pulled out a set of photos.

Even with his face mangled, SK laughed, the sound wet and broken. His left eye was swollen shut, his lips split and bloody.

Nat didn’t flinch. He pressed his hand into SK’s shoulder wound. SK screamed in agony.

“That’s the boss and his brothers,” SK gasped out quickly.

“Where can I find them?” Nat snarled.

SK’s breaths came fast and shallow. “You can’t find them.”

“Give me something,” Nat demanded, his voice sharp as steel. He pressed harder, sinking his fingers into the wound. Blood pulsed out.

“At a bar,” SK choked. “Called Three Knights. It’s theirs. They’re always there—the beginning, middle, and end of each month.”

Nat shoved the photo back into his pocket, then hauled SK to his feet.

“What are you going to do with me?” SK rasped, his body trembling.

“You’re going to pay for every woman you murdered,” Nat growled. His voice was cold, grave, and merciless. His chest heaved, muscles straining with fury.

Dragging SK up the containers, Nat pinned him. “I’ll make this quick.”

He pulled a knife free. Without hesitation, he drove it into SK’s thigh. SK howled in agony.

Nat yanked it out, then seized SK’s arm. In one swift motion, he chopped through his left wrist. Blood spurted violently.

SK screamed.

Then Nat hacked off his other wrist.

“Remember the man’s daughter whose arm you destroyed?” Nat’s voice thundered. “Now you know how it feels.”

SK trembled, his face pale, eyes wide with horror.

“Who are you?” he stammered. “You’re not just some rookie detective.”

Nat’s expression was stone, his eyes burning with fire. “You should have asked that before you pulled the trigger.”

He tore at SK’s trousers.

“No—no, don’t!” SK’s voice cracked, terror flooding him. “Please—don’t—” His eyes shook with dread.

“I bet the women begged you the same way,” Nat said coldly.

And then—he brought the blade down.

SK’s scream ripped through the night as Nat cut him, the knife severing his manhood.